depthcharge12 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 So gentlemen, I had a fluff revelation the other day: I was thinking about what happens to all of the attached word bearer chaplains in the other legions during the great crusade and how they are accepted. More importantly is - what happens to them all when the loyalist legions discover the treachery of the traitor legions and specifically the word bearers? http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs45/i/2009/092/e/b/Glory_to_the_divine_father_by_basler2.jpg I can imagine most would get gunned down if they hadn't left already by the start of the heresy. But what about those who remained loyal to the Emperor and the great crusade and wanted nothing to do with their brothers? I understand the WBs are a bit more susceptible to blindly following orders, however, we've seen a few notable WBs pop up with their own agendas, whether insidious or not. So here's what I propose - there is a word bearer chaplain attached to a first legion expeditionary fleet who monitors for the Nikean edict as well as trains some of the Brother-Redemptors who we all know and love to later become chaplains and interrogator chaplains towards 40k. This expeditionary force gets wind of the larger heresy that happens and who's on what side. Naturally, they head over to the WB chaplain guns drawn and place him under custody. Now this WB chaplain has been largely separated from his legion for a while and does not bear a grudge like his brothers do because of his absence. He has been a devout follower of the Imperial Creed and the Emperor above all others. It is then decided by the DA leaders of the expedition that the chaplain may still be of use, and declare him Ex Repentia Mortis or my pig Latin for "In Death, Forgiven" until a higher power such as the Lion or Emperor decide his fate. This chaplain is then stripped of his symbols of office and painted black to assimilate his identity within the first legion. He is given a brace of pistols and placed in the care of the destroyer cadre in the fleet until further notice. He leads essentially a group of all the errant knights and is condemned for he sins of his legion, even though he has remained loyal and steadfast to the Emperor. Will he find absolution through the kiss of irradiated death, or will he be forgiven and placed under the auspices of a later organization? What do you guys think? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Bearclaw Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 The issue with the WBs is how long they were secretly evil. You're looking at 40-odd years between the Legion's turning and the outbreak of the Heresy. That's a long time for the Legion to essentially forget about a Chaplain with another Legion, especially given how studious Lorgar and co were making sure the XVII were all on side, numerous and well positioned for treachery. Overlooking one of the favoured class (ie. the Chaplains) doesn't really gel with Lorgar, Erebus or Kor Phaeron imo. The you have to account for both why Monarchia didn't break your Chaplain's faith like it did for the Legion as a whole, and how he avoided either getting corrupted or killed by his Legion in the following decades. To be serving with the I Legion since before Monarchia stretches credibility imo. In general, weren't the Chaplains recalled to the XVII in the run up to Istvaan? And were they sent to all Legions? I can only recall them being mentioned as liasing with the Traitors in TFH, not the loyal Legions. Sorry to say this, but despite all the claims of 'anything goes in the Heresy', 'Loyal WB Chaplain' is pushing it beyond plausibility imo. The best case option I can think of is a pre-Monarchia WB ship getting stuck in the warp for decades of real-space time, and finally emerging just as Istvaan's going down (but that's basically it's own flavour of 40k cliché at this point). Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4127251 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Perils Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Ooh, a loyalist Word Bearer chaplain ! When you say he leads a group of errant knights, you don't mean Garro and Malcador's proto-inquisition do you ? I can't really see him becoming a Moritat, but otherwise I think the concept is pretty good. EDIT: Of course, Leif's comment remains valid, but I think it may be possible to find a reasoning. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4127260 Share on other sites More sharing options...
depthcharge12 Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Errant as in like errant knights of the dark Angels since they keep to that theme. The 1st legion destroyers are pretty much lone or dishonored Knights. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4127338 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Operative Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 And were they sent to all Legions? I can only recall them being mentioned as liasing with the Traitors in TFH, not the loyal Legions. A word bearer's chaplain was sent to the raven guard in Deliverance Lost, personally I think it would be very hard for the chaplain to convince the DA of his innocence. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4127362 Share on other sites More sharing options...
depthcharge12 Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Hmm I'm trying to think of the WB Vigilator that doesn't want to keep ties to his legion...I'm thinking of someone rogue like that. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4127377 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriegriss Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I think it could work and is a delicious peace of juxtaposition and Irony as far as him haveing to be separated for 40 from his parent legion that's easy. 40 years is not that long for a galactic spanning crusade involving billions of people even with warp travel to go literally cross galaxy may take up to a year or longer with warp instability. Not to mention smaller fleets may be out of contact with high command for years or possibly decades with only astropathic communication or no coms at all so what's 40 years for a post human designed for an eternity of war as for why he would stay loyal maybe he is an old Terran that during the purges was slotted to go to an expedition fleet and was wrongly included on a casualty report that was never corrected. or was in no hurry to go back to a legion he felt was changing and he didn't fit in and reconciled it by serving Lorgar through his chaplaincy or maybe he was just forgotten because he was not popular with the secret new order in the legion and they just straight up forgot him there are over 100000 wordbearers maybe twice that or more that's a pretty easy to believe that a few fell through the cracks think the guys in charge of purging the legion where still combat active one guy could bite a bullet before he took care of this errant chaplain and his successor not know about it. Also the bonds of brother hood forged in battle are strong say this chaplain is super bad ass and saved many first legion battle brothers on alot of occasions so his loyalty is beyond doubt the possibilities are endless give it I think it sounds super cool Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4127610 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corswain Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I dunno...the Dark Angels aren't exactly the forgiving type! ;) Seriously, I love the idea. Traitors in the loyalist legions and loyalists in the traitor legions are some of the most interesting parts of the heresy I think. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4127900 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daemon2027 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I have been thinking of something similar, like you I saw the chaplain with a sort of death oath, using his zeal to lead others, storming the most dangerous positions, seeking death to repent for his legions failings. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4127945 Share on other sites More sharing options...
depthcharge12 Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 I dunno...the Dark Angels aren't exactly the forgiving type! ;) Seriously, I love the idea. Traitors in the loyalist legions and loyalists in the traitor legions are some of the most interesting parts of the heresy I think. That was my train of thought too. I know the DAs aren't the most forgiving, but when they see failings in themselves, they take it to extremes. I'm thinking that this chaplain would still have worn the grey of the old XVIIth legion and have fought in solitary with the 1st legion throughout the later crusade. He remains faithful to the Emps and has respect from the dark Angels he's fought alongside. You would think the Dark Angels would kill any and all traitors...and yet they locked up Sevatar and his compadres during Thramas instead of killing them. This chaplain is a similiar microcosm to what was happening with Garro/Loken/etc. that throw off the trappings of their new legion identity for the old one. Yet it does not come without a price. The chaplain now faces certain death within the destroyers (now that he's a moritat) due to all the radiation and so forth. The Dark Angels wouldn't be above using willing souls to advance their own agenda IMHO. If the chaplain can still fight and kill traitors, he is still of some use. If he even looked at a Dark Angel funny, he'd get gunned down in a second. What better way to instill fear in your enemy in a zealous seeker of repentance? They can and will do anything without hesitation. There are worse things in the galaxy than death.... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4128078 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daemon2027 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Also, and you may dislike this idea, but there is the whole loyalty issue the DA's have. Now they certinally have taken up the side of the loyalists, but would it beyond The Lion to keep some avenues open, and he thinks having a WB around, carefully monitored, may help him negotiate with Horus or Lorgar if the need arose. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4128092 Share on other sites More sharing options...
depthcharge12 Posted July 26, 2015 Author Share Posted July 26, 2015 Also, and you may dislike this idea, but there is the whole loyalty issue the DA's have. Now they certinally have taken up the side of the loyalists, but would it beyond The Lion to keep some avenues open, and he thinks having a WB around, carefully monitored, may help him negotiate with Horus or Lorgar if the need arose. That's a good idea as well. Considering the Lion was at an impasse for firing at either IHs or DG when retrieving the warp relic, it's be safe to assume that an immediate decision of loyalty would be hard to make. ...though, considering the current DAs author's penchant for killing off cool chaplains, I think mine wouldn't last very long in his world :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4128249 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daemon2027 Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Good job your not him :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/311392-fluff-idea-for-wb-chaplain-attached-to-first-legion/#findComment-4128456 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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